SWDnovel 56. Elder Poisoning
56. Elder Poisoning
Lin Mo sat cross-legged on a blue stone, his eyes slightly closed, his aura contained, as he studied a fragment of an ancient restriction scroll that he had brought back from the Scripture Pavilion the previous night.
Three days have passed since he became a guest elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect. During these three days, apart from necessary rest, he devoted almost all his time to the vast sea of books in the Scripture Pavilion. With his guest elder token, he could freely enter the first four floors, focusing on reading those books that involved the soul, sealing, magical artifacts, and various unorthodox secret techniques.
There were some gains. Some ancient notes mentioned the art of soul imprisonment sporadically, mostly vaguely, either classifying it as heretical or dismissing it as a mere legend. Specific methods for breaking the imprisonment were extremely rare. He also visited the Sword Hall, and with Elder Feng's introduction, observed several profound sword techniques, broadening his horizons. However, there was still no substantial progress in rescuing Qing Li.
"It seems that the usual path won't work. Perhaps we need to look for clues in more ancient secrets or in the notes of some reclusive sects..." Lin Mo pondered, slowly opening his eyes. Just as he was about to get up and head to the Scripture Pavilion again, a series of urgent bell tolls suddenly came from the direction of the Seven Absolutes Sect's main peak.
"Clang—clang—clang—"
The continuous tolling of the bells was not the usual rhythm for summoning meetings or warning of foreign enemies, but rather carried a somber and urgent tone, striking the heart one after another and making people feel involuntarily oppressed.
"It's the 'Warning Bell'!" Lin Mo frowned slightly. According to the Seven Absolutes Sect's rules, the sounding of the Warning Bell signifies an extremely serious incident within the sect. All members must be on high alert, and core disciples and elders must immediately rush to the main hall.
As a guest elder, he wasn't obligated to go, but such an event would inevitably affect the entire sect. After a moment's thought, Lin Mo straightened his robes and decided to go and see what was going on.
The atmosphere was heavy in front of the main hall, the "Hall of Seven Absolutes." Many disciples gathered in the plaza outside the hall, discussing amongst themselves, most with expressions of surprise and uncertainty. The hall doors were tightly shut, with only a few core disciples and elders entering and exiting, all hurrying about with somber expressions.
When Lin Mo arrived, he saw Elder Han and Elder Feng walking out of the hall, their brows furrowed as they spoke in hushed tones.
"...Violently toxic, unlike anything I've ever seen before..."
"...Even Elder Sun of the Pharmacy was helpless..."
"...The Grand Elder's cultivation is profound, how could he...?"
Hearing the fragmented words, Lin Mo's heart stirred. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder Han, Elder Feng. What has happened inside the sect? The bell is tolling urgently; has a powerful enemy attacked?"
When Elder Han saw Lin Mo, he sighed, his face filled with even more worry: "Guest Elder Lin, it's not an external enemy, but... alas, something has happened to the Grand Elder."
"The Grand Elder?" Lin Mo was taken aback. Xuan Chengzi, the Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect, was the most powerful person after the sect leader. His cultivation was unfathomable, and he was highly respected. He was the pillar of the sect.
Elder Feng, quick-tempered, picked up the conversation, his tone indignant: "It's poisoning! This morning, the servant boy found the Grand Elder unconscious in the meditation room, his breath weak, his face bluish-black—clearly poisoned! But the strange thing is, the doors and windows of the meditation room were intact, there were no signs of anyone breaking in, and the Grand Elder's cultivation is profound; ordinary poisons couldn't even get close to him. This poison… it's very suspicious!"
Elder Han added, "Elder Sun of the Pharmacy has examined it and said that this poison is extremely strange, unlike any known poison in the Central Plains. It is extremely potent and, like a bone-deep infection, it is constantly eroding the Grand Elder's heart meridian and dantian. If the Grand Elder had not possessed profound skills and forcibly protected his heart meridian, I'm afraid... Even so, the situation is still very critical. Elder Sun can only use golden needles and medicine to barely slow down the spread of the poison, but cannot eradicate it."
The Grand Elder has been poisoned and fallen into a coma! This news, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, has stirred up a tidal wave within the Seven Absolutes Sect. The Sect Master is currently in seclusion at a crucial juncture and cannot be easily disturbed. Now that the Grand Elder has collapsed, the sect's higher-ups are suddenly leaderless, and panic is inevitable.
The disciples watching from outside the hall were even more in an uproar upon hearing the conversation between the two elders.
"The Grand Elder has been poisoned? How is that possible!"
"Who did this? How dare they!"
"Even Elder Sun can't solve this, what should we do?"
"Could it be a mole...?"
Various speculations, panic, and anger spread among the crowd. Several elders who remained tried to maintain order, but with little success.
Lin Mo listened to the surrounding noise, his gaze sweeping across the chaotic scene, his mind racing. The Grand Elder's poisoning and the sect's internal turmoil presented him with both a crisis and an opportunity. An opportunity to further gain the Seven Absolutes Sect's trust and access the sect's core secrets more deeply. To find a way to rescue Qing Li, merely browsing ordinary texts as a guest elder would likely be insufficient. If he could achieve merit, gain higher privileges, and even access the secret archives reserved for core elders, his chances would be much greater.
Moreover, this matter is shrouded in mystery. To be able to poison a master like the Grand Elder so silently, the poisoner is no ordinary person, and their motives are likely far from simple. He cannot remain uninvolved, either for personal or professional reasons.
Thinking of this, Lin Mo stepped forward and addressed Elders Han and Feng, his voice clear and firm: "Elders, the Grand Elder has been poisoned, causing turmoil within the sect. As a guest elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect, I, Lin Mo, should naturally do my part. Though I am not particularly talented, I have some knowledge of martial arts, medicine, and toxicology. I am willing to volunteer to participate in the investigation, to track down the culprit, and to find an antidote!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the surrounding noise and reached the ears of every elder and core disciple present.
Everyone was stunned, and their eyes all focused on Lin Mo.
Volunteering? A guest retainer who's only been in the ranks for three days?
Elder Han's eyes flashed with surprise, then he pondered and said, "Guest Elder Lin, you are very kind. However, this matter is of great importance. The poisoner's methods are bizarre, and even we have no clue about them. You are new here, so I'm afraid..."
Elder Feng interrupted, saying, "Old Han, although Lin is young, he is meticulous and exceptionally intelligent, as we both witnessed during the third trial. Besides, he volunteered, which shows a rare sense of responsibility. The sect is in chaos right now; the more people contribute, the more hope we have!"
Another gaunt-faced old man dressed in the attire of a pharmacy (presumably Elder Sun) glanced at Lin Mo and said in a hoarse voice, "This poison is strange. The more people who examine it, the more clues we might discover. Since this guest elder is so interested, let him give it a try."
Seeing that Elder Feng and Elder Sun had both spoken in this way, and after looking at Lin Mo, whose expression was calm and whose gaze was firm, Elder Han finally nodded: "Very well. Guest Elder Lin, since you have volunteered, then you are permitted to participate in the investigation. However, this matter must be handled with caution, and all actions must be reported to us in a timely manner."
"Lin Mo understands." Lin Mo cupped his hands in response.
With the elder's approval, Lin Mo no longer hesitated and said to Elder Sun, "Elder Sun, may I examine the First Elder's symptoms of poisoning and the scene in the meditation room?"
Elder Sun nodded: "Follow me."
Under the expectant, doubtful, or curious gazes of the crowd, Lin Mo followed Elder Sun, Elder Han, Elder Feng, and others into the tightly closed Seven Absolutes Hall once again.
The atmosphere inside the hall was even more oppressive than outside. On the bed in the side hall, the First Elder, Xuan Chengzi, lay quietly. His once ruddy face was now shrouded in an ominous bluish-black aura. His breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible, and a dark line creased his brow, making him appear particularly menacing. A faint, almost imperceptible, sweet-smelling metallic scent permeated the air, emanating from his bluish-black complexion.
Lin Mo approached the bed and examined it carefully. He didn't rashly reach out to probe, but instead focused on sensing the fluctuations in the Grand Elder's aura and the way the strange poison was emanating. At the same time, his gaze, like the finest ruler, swept over every corner of the meditation room—the futon, the incense burner, the tea set, the walls, the floor…
The doors and windows were intact, with no signs of forced entry.
The items inside were neatly arranged, and there were no signs of a struggle.
That faint, sweet, and slightly metallic scent didn't seem to be from a conventional poison...
Where are the clues? How did the poisoner manage to do it? And where did this bizarre poison come from?
Lin Mo's brows furrowed slightly, but his gaze grew even sharper.